Name: ________________________________ Date: ____________________

First Certificate Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1b (Units 1–4)

1 Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.

0 I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys.

1 It’s nice to be back in Budapest. This is the second time I came/I’ve come here.
2 I’m meeting/I’ll meet David at seven in the bar.
3 He still hasn’t arrived! I’ve waited/I’ve been waiting for ages!
4 By the time the plane landed, I finished/had finished the book.
5 How was your holiday in Italy? Did you visit/Have you visited Rome?
6 Who did you talk to/were you talking to when I passed you in the car yesterday?
7 Look at those clouds! It will rain/It’s going to rain.
8 Clare used to be/would be an English teacher.
9 While his team was winning/won the match, he felt really excited.
10 What a view! Have you taken/Did you take a photograph yet?

2 Decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

An old friend
Dear Antonio
Thanks for your email. It’s been such a long time since I (0) D from you! When was
it that we last (1) _____ ? Was it really a year (2) _____ at the language school in
Oxford? Happy memories – but I’ve (3) _____ forgotten the name of our teacher! I’m
pleased to hear that you are (4) _____ enjoying your work, and that your relationship
with Daniella (5) _____ well.
What about my news? Well, I’m starting a new job at a clothes shop next week, and I
(6) _____ to it. When I’ve saved up enough money from work I (7) _____ a flat for
myself, because I (8) _____ at my parents’ house for too long now and it’s time for a
change. That’s all for now.
Keep in touch,
Fernando

0 A have heard B hear C did hear D heard

1 A met B were meeting C have met D had met
2 A before B ago C previous D since
3 A still B yet C already D however
4 A yet B still C longer D soon
5 A is going B goes C went D go
6 A have looked forward B looked forward C will look forward D am looking
forward
7 A find B will have found C am going to find D have found
8 A will live B have been living C live D lived

First Certificate Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1b (Units 1–4) 1
3 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the words given. Do not change the word given. You must
use between two and five words, including the word given.

0 Look at those black clouds! There’s rain on the way.

to
Look at those black clouds! It’s going to rain.
1 The last time I saw Richard was before he got his new job.
since
I _______________________________________________ he got his new job.
2 It was the most delicious Chinese meal I had ever eaten.
never
I ____________________________________ a delicious Chinese meal before.
3 She started work here two years ago.
working
She _____________________________________________ the past two years.
4 You don’t seem to be enjoying the music.
are
I get the impression that ___________________________________ the music.
5 I last saw them five years ago.
seen
I ______________________________________________________ five years.
6 Spending all afternoon cleaning left me exhausted.
doing
I ____________________________________ all afternoon and was exhausted.

4 Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a
word which should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word
which should not be there, write the word in the space.

A nice dream
I really don’t know what I will do when I will leave 0 will
University. I am thinking about working for my 00 
father’s company for a while because of my dream 1 ______
is to save up enough money for to travel around 2 ______
the world. I know it’s going to be difficult, and my 3 ______
parents aren’t very much happy about the idea, but 4 ______
I think you can live quite cheaply in places like the 5 ______
India and Thailand. Anyway, it’s a nice dream! 6 ______

First Certificate Language Practice

Grammar Progress Test 1b (Units 1–4) 2